Yavapai County Republican Women holds a Kangaroo Court

When I relocated from the progressive state of New Jersey to the great state of Arizona, I never realized that “Yavapai County Republican Women” (YCRW) seems to think they live in Australia (not to insult the Australians) because I just experienced my first kangaroo court.

I became a duly elected secretary for the Executive Board of YCRW 2018-2019 on November 27, 2017, was installed as an officer on January 22, 2018, and fired on February 22, 2018 which is an amazingly short tenure.

I was figuratively tarred, feathered and run out on a rail.

The people who wanted my removal were everything: Investigators, judge and jury.

The goal was to derail me from ever getting a seat on the Executive Board starting from the Nomination Committee until the time I was removed. The Nomination Chair did not arrange to have one meeting to interview all the candidates and review our applications. I was the only candidate at my meeting. All the candidates ran unopposed. On Election night, to my surprise the President announced from the podium that I had a challenger and that my challenger was the Chair of the Nomination Committee! The chair never announced my challenger’s intention and seemingly did not possess the technical skills needed to be Secretary not having email, texting or possession of a cell phone.

The most egregious was not informing me fully of the no less than 20 unsubstantiated allegations and denying me due process.

The Board never presented me an opportunity to discuss any concerns. Their decision was either I resign or be threatened with an investigation. I was never informed of all the charges, and not given time to prepare for my defense nor even told the date of the investigation. I was denied copies of recordings and minutes.

As the duly elected Secretary I was responsible for records and to keep a current inventory of club property.

All records were to be given to the successors upon vacating the office. I was accused of denigration when I asked to see the inventory as the records were never received.

One of allegations told to me is that being a member of the Executive Board and a State Committeemen, my Facebook posts “denigrated” Republican candidate for Senate (AZ) Martha McSally.

My Facebook posts were entered under my group “Mobilization of Conservatives®” or my name. The bylaws prevent the clubs from endorsement but there is no bylaw preventing me as a private citizen. Candidates play to a generally uniformed audience and I had the audacity to point to this candidate’s deficiencies. Social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter are “conducting rampant censorships” targeting Conservatives for violation of “site rules”. Why is this club joining forces with them to shut down Conservative voices?

I was described as disruptive and not a team player.

There is a difference between being disruptive and a dissenter. I wanted to address the shortcomings in their bylaws and was passionate in my belief. They wanted to maintain the status quo, I wanted to challenge it. The Board wanted to re-invite two Republican women. One was suspended from another Republican club because she was the campaign manager for the Democrat candidate. The other woman lost the Republican primary and endorsed the Democrat candidate. I was passionate that these invitations not be extended as these women violated the bylaws and I suggested a bylaw be introduced to address that members who endorse or support opposition party candidates face the consequence of expulsion. I emphasized that 2018 was a significant election year for Arizona. I believed taking this action would prevent the disloyalties demonstrated during the recent bipartisan elections. The President would not allow discussion on my proposed bylaw. A vote was taken to re-invite the two women and I was the lone dissenter.

I was told that” going beyond parameters” when I contacted the Federation.

The local Executive Board refused to tell me what was involved in an investigation. I then proactively contacted the Federation who began to provide information until their communication suddenly and unexpectedly ceased. There is no bylaw that prohibits such contact and members of the club are automatically members of the Federation.

One of the allegations is that my shout out at the Arizona GOP meeting in Phoenix was not becoming as a member of the Club nor as a State Committeeman.

This club seems to have two different sets of rules: one for the Conservatives and the other for the Republican Establishment. The ranking Establishment members were sitting behind me at the meeting and their shout out was targeted at the Conservatives. I was told directly that the shout out was tempered because of me.

What were the motivations for this coup to remove me as a duly elected board member?

I have upheld the policies and objectives of all of the clubs of which I was/am a member and I have performed the duties of elected office. I have not violated any of the bylaws or standing rules, nor were there any complaints of ethics violations as a member of those organizations. When there are disagreements or concerns the goal of an organization should be “Let’s all reason together”. This club did not present any such opportunity. Investigations are reserved for only the most egregious of offenses. This investigation was based on very shaky grounds, not limited to actual duties not performed or rules broken but on personality issues and ideology differences. They knew I was a principled Conservative and was not a “go along just to get along” type. They were not willing to even try to resolve or work with a difference of opinion. The club expected 100% harmony but to do that, you would have to harmonize with them, you would have to conform. I am not a “good ole’ girl” and I don’t follow the bouncing ball. I didn’t give up my First Amendment rights when I became a duly elected officer of this club, or did I give them up when I became an elected State Committeeman or when I attend a Republican meeting.

Modern democracy is predicated on principles of due process and the assumption of innocence as stated in the U.S. Constitution. How can these clubs call themselves Republicans when they are so unmoored from these tenets? Do they assume the role of a junta? Who needs elections when they can be nullified by opaque bylaws? My forced vacancy was immediately filled by the board until the next biennial election. Any good Republican should be concerned about this type of action.

The Federation is well aware of the shameful conduct of this club and let’s hope it will have the integrity to force the necessary reforms at the local club level.

You need to be a member of Arizona Freedom Alliance to add comments!

I am a member of Yavapai County Republican Women (YCRW) I can't begin to convey my utter disappointment of how Ms Lieberman was railroaded.

I was personally taken aback by those of the newly elected board who unsatisfied with Myrna’s election it appears that some conspired-on ways to remove her by hook or crook. How disappointing to me as a member of the Club that given the brevity of a midterm-election year that removing Myrna was their top priority.

I find myself questioning the wisdom of the YCRW officers. Did they give careful thought to the optics of a decision that is reserved for the most egregious of offences. Did they consider what harm they would inflict on the officer they hung from the tree? From where I sit I can only think they didn’t. Did they think what action they chose could result in members losing faith in her Clubs officers? Did they consider that those members who could see through the scheme may at one time thought of considered serving as an officer would think twice now out of fear they too could become a victim of actions against them? No, I doubt it crossed their minds. I suggest its possible those in on the plot where high on self-interest fueled by a goal of winning a coup. Optics seems one of vengeful action. They chose to pluck the burr [Myrna] off their behinds. Is it possible that those who supported Myrna on the night of the election may have thought she would be a “good burr” to send a message, please no more business as usual? That was my reasoning at least to cast my vote for Myrna.

I am grateful that I have been given the opportunity to get to know Myrna.

Myrna is a strong, confident and opinionated woman. She is a committed conservative. She cowards not to speaking up. I admire those qualities. I do think the YCRW executive officers had an opportunity to learn “a thing or two”. Myrna, I have learned is a reasonable woman, she listens and demands not that all agree with her. That is another quality that I admire about her. Myna does not move a notch when it comes to her personal values, but she is remarkable at accepting for the moment that her opinion or idea received rejection. The moment rejection does not mean she will stop trying. If Myrna is passionate about an issue she does hard work backed by evidence and with commitment to use avenues and tools to try and correct the problem, the shortfall, so that it does not happen in the future. Another quality I admire about Myrna.

The YCRW officers who participated in the coup I can now only view them as cowardly. Instead of "learning a thing or two" they chose to remain in their comfort zone.

I can assert with full confidence that Myrna broke no rules of the Clubs bylaws. Her only offence was a desire to correct shortfalls and lend a conservative voice to the Club.

Leadership of any group is difficult. The success of good leadership is the ability to herd diverse women and men with varying points of view. Railroading out a fine woman who shook their comfort zone is not leadership its business as usual.

THOUGHTS

My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.
Thomas Jefferson

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The best in books to make every conservative start thinking in new ways about America and the world being controlled by the Obama Administrations AND Republicans and Democrats. Some surprises are in store for those who look!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suppose the earth and its inhabitants exist in order to identify just what causes mankind continually to suffer so many troublesome problems and afflictions.

GOD, PLEASE BLESS AMERICA! AMERICA, PLEASE BLESS GOD.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO PRAY, KEEP ON PRAYING. HE HAS HEARD OUR CRY AND HE IS ANSWERING.